Geneva Preview: Abarth 500C and Punto Evo are pocket rockets we'd welcome
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/convertibles/" rel="tag">Convertible</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Performance</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/geneva-motor-show/" rel="tag">Geneva Motor Show</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/euro/" rel="tag">Europe</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/hatchbacks/" rel="tag">Hatchback</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/fiat/" rel="tag">Fiat</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/gallery/abarth-500c-0/#3"><img hspace="0" vspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/abarth500cabweb.jpg" alt="" /></a>
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><sma ll>Abarth 500C (above) and Punto Evo (below right) - Click either for high-res image galleries</small></strong></em></div>
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<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/fiat">Fiat</a>'s plucky <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/abarth">Abarth</a> performance division manages to do a whole lot with very little. The in-house tuning garage has based their entire lineup on two Fiat hatchbacks: the Punto and the 500. So when Fiat rolled out new versions of both, it was only a matter of time until Abarth got their hands on them, and both are slated to make their debut at the fast-approaching <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/genevamotorshow">Geneva Motor Show</a>.<br />
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First up is the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/24/topless-hotness-fiat-reportedly-planning-500c-abarth-cabrio/">500C</a>. The pseudo-convertible version of the popular (and soon to be U.S.-bound) retro mini, the 500C features a retractable roof section sliding between solid roof rails. The base Fiat version is doubtlessly a fun ride, but doesn't look much like a performance driving tool. Abarth, however, seems to have done a lot to rectify that shortcoming. First, the goods: a <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/gallery/abarth-punto-evo-0/#4"><img hspace="4" vspace="4" border="1" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/abarth-punto-evoabweb.jpg" alt="" /></a>140-horsepower 1.4-liter turbo four mated to a five-speed robotized manual, complete with paddleshifters, drive the hot open hatch to 62 miles-per-hour in 7.9 seconds. Complementing the added oomph are bigger wheels and brakes, a sportier suspension, an aggressive body kit and a two-tone paint scheme that, to our eyes, does the shape some big favors in the attitude department.<br />
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The second model <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/26/fiat-previews-updated-abarth-punto-evo-touring-car-to-follow/">starts with the new Punto Evo</a> - a <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/16/frankfurt-2009-fiat-punto-evo-gets-re-hatched/">recently revised version</a> of Fiat's bread-and-butter hatchback - and gives it a shot of adrenaline, courtesy of a 165-hp 1.4-liter turbocharged MultiAir four. A 178-hp Esse-Esse version of the Abarth Punto Evo will be available from launch as well, but buyers looking for the added boost in retro-cabrio form will presumably have to wait a little longer for the Abarth 500C Esse-Esse to come along. Press release after the jump, and images in the galleries below.<br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><s trong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/abarth-500c-0/low/">Abarth 500C</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/abarth-500c-0/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/100224ab500c01_thumbnail. jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/abarth-500c-0/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/100224ab500c02_thumbnail. jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/abarth-500c-0/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/100224ab500c03_thumbnail. jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/abarth-500c-0/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/100224ab500c04_thumbnail. jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/abarth-500c-0/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/100224ab500c05_thumbnail. jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />
<div class="postgallery"><p><s trong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/abarth-punto-evo-0/low/">Abarth Punto Evo</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/abarth-punto-evo-0/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/100224abpuntoevo01_thumbn ail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/abarth-punto-evo-0/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/100224abpuntoevo02_thumbn ail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/abarth-punto-evo-0/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/100224abpuntoevo03_thumbn ail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/abarth-punto-evo-0/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/100224abpuntoevo04_thumbn ail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/abarth-punto-evo-0/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/100224abpuntoevo05_thumbn ail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />
[Source: Abarth]<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/24/abarth-500c-punto-evo-geneva-preview/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Geneva Preview: Abarth 500C and Punto Evo are pocket rockets we'd welcome</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/24/abarth-500c-punto-evo-geneva-preview/">Geneva Preview: Abarth 500C and Punto Evo are pocket rockets we'd welcome</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 13:28:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/24/abarth-500c-punto-evo-geneva-preview/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19371248/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/24/abarth-500c-punto-evo-geneva-preview/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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